The Commander Series Forum

Played last night with our first inclusion of Recce Units. 100% understand how Recce Units operate in the Initiative Phase.

But how do they move in the normal game turn? As I understand it they are not attached to a particular HQ. They don't have their own CV roll. So how do they get orders to move?

Paul

Recce move in the Initiative Phase as per their Tactical Doctrine,in response to visible enemy units within 15,20 or 25cm
Recce can also be given orders by any HQ or the CO in the Command Phase,as per normal units,as long as the Recce unit has not communicated in the Initiative Phase.

Richard

Cool, thanks Richard.

That's right, just order them with any CO/HQ you like.

Clarification questions:

1: Do Recce only move in Inititative Phase as per Tactical Doctrine or can they make a full normal move?

2: Can Recce fire in the Initiative Phase as per Tactical Doctrine or out to their max allowed?

-Patrick

I could swear that I remember reading on this forum that both were to their full ability, but I can't find it now, and that may have been for BKCI.

Patrick

In the Initiative Phase,Recce units may:

1. Make a full move,in any direction, in response to the nearest visible enemy unit,provided it is in initiative distance

2. Fire at the nearest visible enemy unit provided it is in weapon range and initiative distance

Richard

Hey Patrick.

1. (part1) Recce act like any unit in Initiative when in Tac Doc range of an enemy unit. (part2) And they can move in the normal game turn receiving orders from any HQ or CO. There's no range modifiers applied so your Recce could be 6ft from the HQ with no CV penalty.

That's how I got confused yesterday. I thought it all happened in Initiative phase.

Oh right, i thought they could only do stuff in the initiative phase.....

So, let me get this right, i can move in the Initiative phase(or whatever), then it can receive orders normally, during the rest of the turn?

With the exception that if a recce unit communicates (uses its recon ability) during the initiative phase it cannot be given orders during the command phase. We interpret this to mean if the recce unit uses its recon ability regardless of whether it was successful or not, but we could be wrong with that part.

FURTHER QUERY

If recce can only operate in the initiative phase within initiative distance and:-

1. Make a full move,in any direction, in response to the nearest visible enemy unit,provided it is in initiative distance

2. Fire at the nearest visible enemy unit provided it is in weapon range and initiative distance

What about communication - as it says to measure the distance between recce and nearest enemy unit 1 per 10 cm distance up to a max of 60 cm. How can the recce do this as I thought they are only able to operate within Initiative distance - the max being 25 cm???

It seems so simple until someone queries during a game??!!

thanks

Recce units have the normal options during the initiative phase OR can use their special recon ability to try and locate the nearest enemy unit up to 60cm. If they do use their recon ability then they cannot be given orders during the command phase.
If they don't use the recon ability, then they are only able to be given move or deploy but not fire orders during a command phase.

OK thanks, got it!

Cross698, forget initiative distance 25cm etc. that does not apply to Recce. Initiative PHASE does however during which it may for example, attempt to "spot" an enemy unit (it does not require LOS to said unit in order to "spot"it)To do this measure the distance to the enemy unit, you need to throw 1xD6 and require one pip for every 10cm. your recce is from the unit ie. you are 40cm. away, so on your D6 you need 4,5 or 6 to successfully communicate to the NEAREST command unit.(again, LOS not required) Don't forget that FAO/FAC are also command units and if either of those are nearer than any of your HQ's then it is them that you would have to communicate with. The chances are it will be a HQ or your CO you wish to communicate with, so, be carefull where you place your FAC/FAO Good luck, Ivan.

Pete says: "That's right, just order them with any CO/HQ you like."

What about the formations and rigid doctrine then? Are recce seperate to this?

I think reece should be seperate. Thats how we treat them anyway.

Recce units are not part of any formation. See P42 second para. They can be ordered by any Command unit. If Recce have to "fall back" they may fall back further than 10cm. and are not knocked out. Ivan.

at ivan: I think that´s not all correct... Recce do not have to have LOS to the nearest Command Unit to communicate with it, but they do have to have LOS to a enemy unit in order to spot it. The measurement you desrcirbe does indeed refer to the distance to the spotted enemy unit.

The Tac Doc´s initiative range does count for recce units in order to fire, because if a recce unit doesn´t play their recce role (spotting and communication), they act nearly as a normal combat unit in the initiative phase.

That´s how I read the rules... ;-)

Ragnard65, Hi, Recce do not require LOS to an enemy unit, the point of the Recce having to measure the distance between the two and throw the D6 is to see if the enemy unit has been spotted or not. If the D6 was successfull then the enemy has been spotted. Simples Yes you're right about the Tac/Doc and initiative when not using Recce for communication. Ivan.

Ragnar65, Sorry, misread your post!